North Stonington selectmen seek update on plans for new fire station

North Stonington — Facing questions from other selectmen about the status of the town’s plan for a new fire station, First Selectman Nicholas Mullane said he will ask the Emergency Services Building Committee to attend next week’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

Earlier this month, Mullane told other selectmen that the project, which was had been estimated to be $2.4 million over budget, is back on track thanks to the committee’s decision to switch to a metal building.

But he didn’t provide details about the new cost projections because the town is still waiting on information from architecture firm Silver/Petrucelli. Mullane told the board in early August that he was “not happy” about the long wait.

On Tuesday, Selectman Bob Testa began to question why the selectmen still had no details on the project.

It “seems premature” to say the project is going to be able to proceed with its original $6.3 million budget when “we haven’t received anything concrete from anybody about it,” said Testa.

“Maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m paranoid, but I’m getting a little concerned,” said Testa, who said he wanted to see the entire committee and hear each individual’s perspective on the project.

Mullane said he is aware of the switch to a metal building and the lowered cost because he has been attending the committee’s meetings regularly. But he said he will ask the committee to share their thoughts with the selectmen next Tuesday and work on getting data from Silver/Petrucelli.